Game 6 sets CBC hockey ratings record

The CBC says Monday's Game 6 of the Stanley Cup final between Vancouver and Boston was the network's highest-ever rated NHL game.

The game, which saw the Bruins defeat the Canucks 5-2 to tie the series 3-3, averaged an audience of 6.6 million viewers, making it the most-watched NHL broadcast in CBC history, the network said.

The introduction of a new measuring system in September 2009 has seen sports TV ratings skyrocket in Canada.

The game peaked at 8.1 million viewers near the end of the first period and reached a total of 16.2 million viewers — the most ever for the final on CBC.

This is the first Stanley Cup final featuring a Canadian team since the Ottawa Senators played the Anaheim Ducks in 2007.

Game 7 of the series goes Wednesday night in Vancouver.